IRCTC Begins Trial of New Branded Catering System on Select Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat Trains

New Delhi | December 15, 2025 In an effort to significantly improve the quality of food served on trains, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has begun testing a new catering model on select Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat trains across the country. The initiative aims to bring visible and meaningful improvements in onboard meal services by introducing branded food providers and separating meal preparation from meal service. According to IRCTC officials, the new system is being rolled out as part of a Proof of Concept (PoC) exercise. Under this model, food production is being handled by established Food and Beverage players such as industrial kitchens, well-known restaurant chains and airline catering companies. The responsibility of serving meals to passengers, however, remains separate, allowing greater focus on hygiene, freshness and consistency at every stage of the supply chain. IRCTC, a Navaratna Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Railways, currently serves around 16.5 lakh meals every day across Indian Railways. Officials said the corporation has been working continuously to upgrade passenger services, and catering remains a key area of focus due to frequent feedback from travellers. The organisation stated that the objective of these trials is to bring a “paradigm shift” in the quality of food served on trains. The PoC focuses closely on kitchen infrastructure, food preparation standards, safe transfer of meals from kitchens to trains and overall service quality during journeys. By involving reputed food brands, IRCTC hopes to raise trust among passengers and improve satisfaction levels. The trials are currently being conducted in different railway zones on some of the newly introduced trains. These include the Nagpur–Secunderabad Vande Bharat Express, where food is being supplied by Haldiram’s of Nagpur and Elior based in Secunderabad. The Delhi–Sitamarhi Amrit Bharat train has partnered with Touch Stone Foundation from Delhi. In southern India, the Kasargod–Thiruvananthapuram train and the Mangalore–Thiruvananthapuram Vande Bharat Express are being served by Casino Air Caterers and Flight Services, a company known for airline catering. Officials said these branded partners are providing fresh and hygienic meals prepared in modern kitchens, following strict quality and safety norms. The new system is also designed to ensure timely delivery of meals onboard without compromising taste or temperature. An important feature of the trial is the introduction of diverse, restaurant-style menus. Passengers are being offered a wider variety of dishes, including local and regional delicacies, instead of standardised meals. IRCTC believes this approach will make train journeys more enjoyable, especially on premium services like Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat trains. Early feedback from passengers travelling on these routes has been encouraging. According to the official release, many travellers have responded positively to the taste, presentation and hygiene of the meals served during the trial period. This feedback is being carefully documented as part of the PoC evaluation. IRCTC officials said the insights gained from these trials will be studied in detail. Based on the results, the corporation may expand the new catering model to more trains in the future. The goal is not only to improve food quality but also to build a reliable and transparent catering system that passengers can trust. The initiative comes at a time when Indian Railways is upgrading trains, stations and passenger amenities at a fast pace. With modern trains like Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat setting new benchmarks in speed and comfort, IRCTC aims to ensure that onboard food services match the overall travel experience. While the PoC is still in progress, IRCTC has indicated that passenger satisfaction will play a key role in deciding the future of this catering model. If successful, the branded meal system could mark a major change in how food is served on trains, making rail travel more comfortable, hygienic and enjoyable for millions of passengers across the country. IRCTC Begins Trial of New Branded Catering System on Select Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat Trains Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has started testing a new catering model on select Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat trains to improve the quality of food served to passengers. The trial, being run as a Proof of Concept, aims to bring visible changes in onboard meal services by focusing on freshness, hygiene and better taste. Under this new system, IRCTC has separated meal production from meal service. Well-known Food and Beverage brands such as industrial kitchens, restaurant chains and airline catering companies are preparing the meals, while service on the train is handled separately. The idea is to ensure better quality control at every step, from cooking to serving. The trials are being conducted across different railway zones on newly introduced trains. These include the Nagpur–Secunderabad Vande Bharat Express, where meals are provided by Haldiram’s and Elior, and the Delhi–Sitamarhi Amrit Bharat train, which has partnered with Touch Stone Foundation. In the southern region, Casino Air Caterers and Flight Services are supplying meals on the Kasargod–Thiruvananthapuram train and the Mangalore–Thiruvananthapuram Vande Bharat Express. IRCTC, a Navaratna PSU under the Ministry of Railways, serves around 16.5 lakh meals daily across Indian Railways. Officials said improving catering services remains a top priority. The current trials focus on kitchen infrastructure, food preparation standards, safe transfer of meals and overall passenger experience. One key highlight of the new model is the introduction of restaurant-style menus, including local and regional dishes. According to IRCTC, early passenger feedback has been positive, with travellers appreciating the taste, quality and hygiene of the meals. The feedback and data collected during the trial will be reviewed before deciding whether to expand this model to more trains. If successful, this could bring a major change in how food is served on Indian trains.